During the Wednesday evenings of Lent, read and discuss the ELCA draft social statement on Women and Justice (http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Social_Statement_DRAFT_on_Women_and_Justice.pdf?_ga=2.205520656.1476214806.1518464296-1391551907.1518464296)

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Our Pastor

Giuseppe is married to the love of his life, Stephanie. Together they are parents to three children. They live together with two cats and a goldfish (different environments, though!)

Giuseppe was born and raised in Naples, Italy, the oldest of five children. As a teenager he participated in his church’s youth group, and enjoyed training with their volleyball team. Giuseppe also served on the church’s evangelism and worship committees. With his friends he enjoyed playing soccer, ping pong and riding his bicycle, hobbies that he still enjoys today.

A returning missionary inspired him to consider the call to ordained missionary life, which he embraced at the end of high school. He later joined a missionary order and began his theological studies in Florence, Italy. After a time of spiritual formation, known as the novitiate, he was sent to complete his theological preparation in Chicago, where he earned his M.Div. degree and subsequently his M.A. He was ordained a priest on September 17, 1988, and his first parish was an African American inner city church in Cincinnati, OH.

In 1993 Reverend Mattei left the Roman Catholic Church to join the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Since then, he has served Lutheran congregations in Illinois and New Jersey. Rev. Mattei has also served on the New Jersey Synod Leadership Mission Team. Through the years he has developed a strong passion for spiritual life coaching, conflict mediation and social justice issues.

The Mattei family is excited about their next chapter – a new home and life in Massachusetts. They look forward to getting to know their church family at Shepherd of the Valley (SOV). May the Lord’s blessing be upon the Mattei family and upon SOV, as they journey together in ministry!